Counter.



PATENTED JUNE 4, 1907.

E. T. WILLSON.

COUNTER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.22,1906.

iVLENTO/P (3W (Law 8) QHQQM ATTORNEY WITNESSES 1m: NORRIS PETERS 1:51..WASHINGTON, n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIQE.

COUNTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

Application filed September 22, 1906. Serial No. 335,688.

provements in Counters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to counters, and particularly to counters intendedand designed to be used in games such as whist, etc.

The objects of my invention are to provide an attractive, simple,inexpensive, convenient and effective counter, which from its novelconstruction and method of operation may be of interest also as apuzzle. I attain these objects by the device described and illustratedin the accompanying description and drawings, in which like letters ofreference refer to like parts throughout the respeetive views.

Figure 1 is a front view of the complete device showing the projectinginterlocking corners of the shield in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a rearview of the complete device. Fig. 3 is a front view with the shield andone of the counter plates or ring -d removed to show more plainly theconstruction, operation and manner of assembling the various parts. Fig.4 is a front view of the shield. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are views of theseveral wheels, disks or rings forming the counting elements or indicesof the device.

Heretofore in most game counters and devices of this nature it has beencustomary to attach the various movable parts to the whole or to eachother by pivots or other i similar means. I In my invention I eliminateall fixed pivots, the various parts preferably being firmly retained inrelation each to each by their resilience or elasticity, and theinterlocking construction, the moving parts being capable of revolvingin the slits or open ings in the body of the device while held therein.Thus, it will be seen, I obtain a device of compact and pleasingappearance, not easy to get out of order, and yet one that may be easilyand quickly taken apart for cleaning, repair, replacement, change, orother purpose, and Without tools.

I prefer to make the device of celluloid, thin rubber, aluminium orother comparatively thin, hard and springy material, any particularsubstance, of course, not being material, nor need it be resilient, asthe retaining corners or flaps may be bent in place after the insertionof the indices.

Referring to the figures, a is the main body or frame. It is pierced orprovided with apertures, slots or openings of various shapes so arrangedor disposed as to form flaps or similar retaining means co-operatingwith the portions left to secure the parts, as will be later moreparticularly pointed out.

5* is a cover adapted to be slipped into the aforesaid slits orapertures a cl/l) cc-dd-ce f y"in e, and is provided with the corners orshoulders twhich bear against the back of the body -a and prevent itsslipping out. bis also provided with openings -r s and -q through whichthe several disks or rings cde 4 and -y may be seen. One of the objectsof this cover is to conceal the counter disks or rings as well as toform a means of securing them and making the whole device more secure.This shield is preferably of some different color from the body c andthe wheels or disks, so as to make both a pleasing and a usefulcontrast.

c is a disk provided with suitable characters adapted to be slipped intothe apertures or slits c cdcl in the lower part of the body a where itis covered by the lower part -Z) of the shield b exce t at the aperturep as shown in Fig. 1. it will be noticed on reference to Fig. 4 that theaperture Q- in the shield Z) registers with the aperture -p in the body-a, and permits the disk c to appear.) Disk c is moreover held in placein the body -a by the portions nforming flaps which lie in rear of c andkeep it from slipping out (see Fig. 2). It will be observed that c*revolves around an imaginary center or pivot which is preferably thecenter of the lower part of the body a-.

(Z is a ring or annular counter adapted to slip into the frame a asshown in Fig. 2. It is held in the slits aab b c c ff. This annularcounter is not shown in Fig. 1 as it is there covered by the shield lexcept at the aperture -s* registering with -0 in a. It will be observedthat it is free to revolve around an imaginary center corresponding withthe center of the whole device.

6 is a disk adapted to he slipped into the slits c-coo1 -y (see Figs. 2and 3); the body a being cut away in such manner as to form flaps infront of the disk which retain it while permitting its free revolutiontherein around its center. fis a similar disk secured in a similar waybut lying in the apertures o v i/- r--9t" 2 2* in rear of the flaps justmentioned, and also in rear of the disk -0 (see Fig. 2). g is an annularcounter smaller than, but similar to, d and is adapted to slip into theslits and apertures b b -;rz in rear of the disk -e and flaps abovementioned, but in front of the disk It will be observed that these disksand rings are provided with characters arranged in such way that by therevolution of the respective disks and rings various combinations eitherof numbers or other characters are secured showing through the aperturesr p-so q in the body a and shield b. It will be noted, moreover, thatthese rings and disks are so placed relative to each other and to thebody and shield.

that they do not interfere with each other in their revolutions, andthat the numbers are so disposed thereon as to permit the forming of thecombinations referred to; and also that these rings and disks serve tosupport and retain each other in co-operation with the various flaps ofthe body a, such as the portions or flaps i--i-7t 7tjj-- n n, etc.,which flaps are, of course, formed by the peculiar shape of the slits orapertures.

The various disks and rings may and preferably should be slightlyroughened on the back as at "0-, Fig. 2, in order that sufficientresistance may be secured to the pressure of the finger as to permit therevolution of the disk or ring in the body a*.

In assembling the various members of this device, the disks may beslightly bent and the body a also bent when necessary, and the flapslifted to permit the insertion of the disk or ring into the proper slitsor openings. Preferably, I first insert the disk -c then -e gfand -(Z-in the order named, and finally place the shield b over all, althoughthis particular order need not necessarily be followed. Indeed, theinterest excited by the endeavor to assemble the device easily, properlyand quickly is one of the attractive features of my invention.

It may be noted that by revolving the ring and disks fc variouscombinations of numbers, or other symbols as the case may be, areobtained showing through the aperture -r--, Fig. 1, and differentnumbers, letters or other characters may be made to appear in theapertures 0 and p-, Figs. 1 and 3, by the revolution of the ring d anddisk ---e.

Of course, one of the principal functions of this device is toconveniently count and register the points of a game or series of gamessuch as bridge-whist, and to this end I preferably number the disk -g inconsecutive numbers up to 9, a hole preferably indieating the Zero mark.The ring -(Z .l. provide with consecutive even numbers as 2, l, 6, 8,etc, up to 30 a hole preferably indicating the zero mark. The disk --e"is pro vided with consecutive even numbers 2, 4, (i, 8 on both sides ofthe center line, which center line runs through the two zero marks, oneof which may be an aperture. The disk 1 is provided. with consecutivenumbers up to E) wth an aperture for the zero mark, but in. the case ofthis disk the numbers are placed comparatively near the center so thatwhen placed in the body (1 in. connection. with disk and ring c and. -gthey will come into proper position relative to the characters on c and-gand make the resulting combination clear. The disk e is providedpreferably with letters inv the following order Starting with anaperture which indicates O and going to the right, follows VV, R, L, Ron each side of the center line; the letter 0 being on the dividing lineopposite the aperture designating O.

In using this device for a game counter for bridge-'\\'hist, thecombination of numerals formed by the disks -c-f and ring visible in theapertiu'e r (see Figs. 1 and 3) represents various points secured. Thenumerals on the ring Z shown through the aperture -0', same F igs.,represent the number of game points, while the letters on the disk eshown through the aperture p same figures, indicate respectively thewords \Von Iilll.)l)01"* Lost.

It is clear that the device may be quickly assembled or taken apart forany purpose such repair, change or otherwise, and it is evident thatthere is sufficient friction between the various parts to preventunintentional ilisarrangcment of the various moving parts while yetpermitting the necessary or desirable manipulation, and all without anypermanent attachment.

I do not limit myself to any particular material, shape, color, design,arrangement or order of characters. or other qualification of the wholeor various parts of this device, nor to the peculiar arrangement orrelation of the various parts or the slits or apertures in which theyfit, as illustrated, nor to any particular use or purpose for thedevice, as whist, card or game counter, but

IVhat I do claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A counter, comprising a body of resiliposed in the rear, by whichthey may be rel volved in said body, and a shield provided 1 withapertures through which the indices 5 may be observed, fitting into theapertures of the body and securing the indices therein.

3. A counter, comprising a frame provided. with apertures extendingthrough the same; a plurality of adjustable plates provided withcharacters and each secured in two or more of said apertures so as to beretained in place by the frame, and arranged so that the charactersthereon can be brought in such mutual relation as to produce variouscombinations of characters.

4'. The combination of a frame provided with apertures extending throughthe same,

- and a plurality of adjustable indices held between the edges of theapertures and overlapped by the remaining portions of thej frame.

5. The combination of a body provided with apertures, a plurality ofadjustable indices movably retained therein by the remaining portions ofthe frame, parts of which .indices are exposed in the front and parts ofwhich are exposed in the rear for the purpose of rotation.

6. A counter comprising a frameprovided with apertures extending throughthe same and an adjustable plate provided with characters and heldbetween the edges of the apj ertures by the edges of the frame.

7. The combination of a "frame provided with. apertures, and a pluralityof adjustable indices retained in said apertures and overlapped byadjacent portions of the frame.

8. The combination of a frame provided with apertures, a plurality ofadjustable indices held therein, a part of each index being in front,and a part in rear of the frame.

9. The combination of a frame provided with apertures in its surface, aplurality of adjustable indices larger than the apertures, the outsideedges of which bear against the inside edges of the apertures and liepartly in rear and partly in front of adjacent portions 3 of the frame.

Signed at city of New York in the county of New York and State of NewYork this 20 day of September A. D. 1.906.

EDWARD TEMPLE WTLLSON.

i tnesses:

HENRY S. REYNOLDS, ANNA R. BENNETT.

